It is now 45 days into NHL free agency and Martin Brodeur is still twisting in the wind, waiting for a team to offer him a contract. His friend and Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello expects his longtime goalie to wait until training camps begin, and then size up the market before deciding if he plans to play this year or retire. There are two factors that make it seem like the latter -- Brodeur hanging up his skates -- is getting more likely. 1. There are several big-name goalies still on the market. Brodeur joins experienced net minders Tomas Vokoun, Jean-Sebastian Giguere, Tim Thomas and Ilya Bryzgalov that are still unsigned, and while that doesnt mean Brodeur wont land somewhere, it speaks to the competition he faces for a job. 2. If a job opens, theres no telling if its the right job. Brodeur wants to play for a contender, and that limits his options. So its time to wonder: What happens if Brodeur gets to a point where he realizes the right fit isnt there? Lamoriello has the answer. The longtime Devils GM said Brodeur has a job waiting for him with the Devils if he decides to stop playing. He knows that, Lamoriello said. He knows hell be a Devil for the rest of his life. What Marty has done and the type of personality he is, and what his experience is, its a no brainer. Hes a Devil. But Lamoriello wonders: Does Brodeur want to work? Hes been around enough great players to know that this is not always the case. You always have to find out if former players want to work, Lamoriello said. Theyre used to playing, thats the bottom line. I know Marty doesnt want to coach. I dont know if Marty wants to work. Its the individual. You see some that have gone into it and have drifted away, and it wasnt that the organization did that, it was just what they wanted to put in to have the success. Its like great players sometimes dont make good coaches. Its not because they dont know. Its that they cant get down to the majority of players because they think they should know it already. Its the same thing with what youve accomplished. Theres a price you pay. Its the individual. Its one they get into and feel, This is not for me. Golf is more for me. Parties are more for me. Thats more of the majority that the minority, by the way. My theory? Brodeur is more the willing to work. I wrote months ago that the best possible scenario is that hell stop playing and become an assistant general manager under Lamoriello. He can work under one of the best GMs in hockey for a few years and then the assess his options.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 18:12:19 +0000
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